How Urgent Care Centers Can Help You Defend Against This Season’s Nasty Flu

If you or anyone in your family is sick or injured, the urgent care centers in Santa Clara and San Jose, CA should be top on your list of places you can go to get help. No appointment necessary and all you need to do is walk in!

It’s flu season and now is the time to get to your urgent care center to get information, get vaccinated or receive care. Flu seasons can be unpredictable, some years the virus is worse than other years, but one thing we know for sure is that a flu epidemic will happen every year.

Getting to an urgent care in Santa Clara for a flu shot is your first line of defense. Many people shun the flu shot because they erroneously believe that the flu shot will give them the flu. Nothing can be further from the truth. It is impossible for the flu vaccine to give anyone the flu because when the vaccine is being manufactured, the virility of the virus is chemically disabled. Any discomfort that one can feel after the vaccination is short lived and mild, especially compared to the debilitating effects of the actual flu.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends a yearly flu shot as the first step in combating the flu. Even if you get the flu after getting the vaccination, your symptoms will be milder and shorter lived. Getting a flu shot is also a civic responsibility as it protects the more vulnerable around us from catching the virus.

There are some categories of people who should not get the flu shot and the doctors at your urgent care center can inform you about that. Those who should always get a flu shot, however, include:

Women who are pregnant. Studies show that it not only protects the mother, but the flu vaccine protects the newborn for several months after birth.

Seniors. Adults 65 and older who get the flu vaccine reduce their chances of having to be hospitalized by up to 58%.

Children. Vaccinated children are hospitalized 75% less.

Anyone with a chronic health condition. If you are living with a chronic health condition it is particularly important to be vaccinated. People with diabetes, heart conditions, lung disease, asthma, liver and kidney disease, people with weakened immune systems are all at higher risk for severe complications from the flu.

One thing to remember is that the flu is a respiratory disease, it is not related to stomach issues or intestinal problems, including vomiting and diarrhea. Your welcoming Santa Clara and San Jose Urgent Care staff can give you information about both. But keep in mind that while being nauseous can sometimes be related to having the flu, the flu is not an intestinal disease.

Is it too late for you to get a flu shot? Every flu season is different, but the CDC recommends getting vaccinated between the end of October and Thanksgiving. If you put it off for too long, it’s not too late to get the shot in December or even later. The flu season can last until March and even into May in a bad year.

Traditional wisdom applies here, if you have the flu get lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids, get your flu shot and discuss options for treatment with your urgent care doctors at Santa Clara and San Jose.

About the Author:

Arun Villivalam, MD is a concerned and caring family physician and primary care doctor serving the community of Los Gatos, CA. Dr. Villivalam attended Thomas Jefferson University, where he received his medical degree, and completed his residency in family medicine at Cook County Hospital. Dr. Villivalam provides a variety of services to ensure the health and wellbeing of his patients, including physicals for all ages, chronic care management, stress management, urgent care, medicare wellness visits, school physicals and more.